Tim Armstead, right, former speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates, is sworn in as a West Virginia Supreme Court justice Tuesday by his former House chief of staff, Kanawha Circuit Judge Dan Greear, in the state Supreme Court chamber on Tuesday.(Gazette-Mail photo by Chris Dorst)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Tim Armstead said Tuesday he’s excited to get to work to restore West Virginians’ confidence in the state Supreme Court — even though it means serving on the bench with at least three justices whom he voted to impeach last month, while he was still speaker of the House of Delegates.

“This past year has been very challenging to our judiciary system,” Armstead said during his swearing-in ceremony in front of family, friends and others in the Supreme Court chamber. “I know that it’s really a time that none of us would have wished on the state of West Virginia, but I’ll also say this — I’m optimistic of where we are going now.”

Armstead took the oath of office a little more than 24 hours after the Supreme Court — made up currently of circuit judges from around the state, after all of the regular justices recused themselves — dismissed a petition that challenged the appointment of Armstead and Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va., to the court.